Pickling chain



July y28, 1936. J, GERBER 2,049,254

PICKLING CHAIN Filed Feb. 15, 1936 ATTORNEYS Y VSimple open-link chains, 'if formed without den# nite weldlineand 'otherwise formed to present not operate smoothly .but on the contrary tend to self'is unduly increased Patented July 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PICKLING CHAIN John` L. Gerber, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Bronze Die Casting Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application `This invention relates to an acid-resistant chain adapted to use in pickling machines.

In pickling machines of vthe typev used in 'picklingv such elongate stock as iron and steel pipes, tubes, rods, bars, andshapes, the elements subjected to the pickling vsolution are supported therein by means of at least two spaced chains. These Chains, at both sides of the bath, pass over sprockets, or sheaves, which are operated frequently to change the shape of the loops formed by the two chains.` As the Vchains recurrently change their loop form under the influence of the sprocket movement, theelements of the stock are tumbled in the pickling' bath, rubbing against each other and .against the chain, and washing theI pickling solution against the surfaces of all the stock elements. v

Problems arise in connection with the struc-V tureof. these stock-supporting and stock-agitating chains.-` While commonly made of acid-resistant bronze, such bronze is not capable wholly of resisting the corrosive 4effect of 1the pickling solution. 'Ihis gradually destructive corrosion proceeds slowly upon parts of massive form, whichpresent relatively smooth uninterrupted surfaces to the .pickling solution, but proceeds with relativerapidity in structures comprising closely Iadjacent surfaces between'. f which `the pi'ckling'solution may enter. Y

-rForthe reason given above, it is undesirable to use lin pickling machines chains comprising pins, rivets, bushings, and thelike, such as are usually made Vstructural elements in Vsprocket. chains.

uninterrupted surfaces to the pickling solution, are capable of resisting long continued` subjection to the corrosive effect of a pickling solution. Those chains, however, notfbeingwell adapted to use with'sprockets, andasipassed over sheaves, do

kink, and by turning so to snake past the stock that the rubbing eiectofthe stock' elements 'on each' other is'lessened, and-wear in the chain it- A by rubbing of .the chain links against each other.

` With these problems in mind, I have invented a chain for use in pickling machines which is massive, rather thanrcomplexjm structure; in which the chain links maintain their initially predetermined position with respect to` each other; which is so formed that itl provides receiving pockets formedl to permit and positively to cause tumbling ofthe stockfand' in which the links'are 'so interconnected that the single, 'integrating February 13, 1936, Serial No. 63,724

6Claims. (Cl. 'Z4-249) interruption in each link is so positioned in the assembly that corrosion at the locus of interruption in the several links results in the least damage to the chain structure as a whole.

. Further, I have invented a sprocket chain 5'` j which because of its strength, smooth running, and the fact that it may be used reversibly, is adapted to use in various associations other than with a pickling machine, and which may be made of other than acid-resistant metals.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. I is a crosssectional view through a pickling machine showing, somewhat diagrammatically, a chain made in accordance with my invention looped to support a plurality of elongate stock elements inthe pickling solution, and mounted in manner to provide for change in the form of the stock-supporting loop of the chain.

` Fig. II is a plan view, on the approximate scalev of Fig. I, showing several links of my picklingvgo;` chain joined, and showingan end link of this fragmentary chain structure open for connection with its next adjacent link.

Fig. III is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section .through an assembly of chain links, illustrating particularly the connection between adjacent links of the chain andthe mode in which such connection is made.

Fig. IV is a view, partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, on the line IV-IV of Fig. III, illustrating a connection between chain links. In Fig. I of the drawing, showing a 'pickling machine of the type above referred to, reference numeral l designates a trough or tank made of wood, or other suitable material, unaffectedby the pickling solution, and reference numeral 2 designates the` pickling bath. At both sides oi'v the tank t are mounted sprockets 3, over which the chain 4 is passed. A number yof stock elements 5, shown as bars of circular section, are supported in the pickling bath 2 by a loop of the chain dipping below the surface of the bath. It is to be understood that one or more additional chains are similarly mounted along the tank to support stock at diierent points along its length.

Considering specically the structure of the chain links, each of these links, when viewed in side elevation, comprises a relatively broad por#y tion formed of the link hub 6 and side anges 'I projected radially therefrom. The hub anges 'l merge into side arms 8, which are relatively narrow as viewed in side elevation, and which are interconnected at the end of the link opposite the hub by a cross-bar 9 carrying thereon a radially disposed protuberance, or lug, Il).

It is to be understood that each link, comprising as its primary elements the flanged hub 6, side arms 8, and cross-bar 9, may be made as a onepiece casting. One of the links is so shown in Fig. IV of the drawing, a dotted division line A--A n intersecting the cross-bar at the lug I thereon being shown to indicate the line on which the cross-bar is interrupted as bysawing through it after the link "has been cast. Connection be-v tween links is made in the manner shown in Fig.

II, the link being opened by so Vspreading the side arms as to separate the terminals of the interrupted cross-bar a distance adequate to span the hub of an adjacent link. .Theterminals `of the divided cross-bar are then brought into align-v yment withthe hub bar'of an adjacent link, and,

lthe link being reclosed, the nsections of the cross-K. bar are brought into close proximity to each Yother within their receiving hub bore. l

Y Within theA hub boreof each link is achannel I I, formed on a radius greater than that on which I' the exterior regions of the bore are formed, and

extended through aportion of thelbore circumference. The channel II is thus bounded byside wallsj I2 andbya shoulder I3 at lwhich the channel terminates.l Channell I is rendered accessibleto the lug portions carried` by each of the cross-V bar sections, Vand the cross-,bar 'is permitted tov enter the hub bore, despite the protuberances on its divided sections, by -wayof a groove I4 through the sidewalls I2 of Ithe hub and extending to the' channelv II interiorly of the hub.y Y Y Y Inrassembly, the alignment between the opene cross-bar`of one link"andrthe hub bore of an adjacent link` is such that the protuberances onY the sections ofthe cross-bar are both inA alignment with the groove I4 provided for their recepl tion., The,operation of closing the"V linkv`r`r thus Y leaveslthe protuberance or lug Il), or rather? the rubbing friction betweenthe interior sur-faceof divided cooperating portions thereof, within the boundslotchannel II. 'By turning the linksT relatively to each other, the lug AIi] is caused to liewithin a region `of thefchannel I'I Vto which'the groove AI4 does not'lead.Y .The lug I0, or the divided portions thereof, thus beingie'n'closed be'-` tween the sidewalls I2 'of .the hub, reopening of the link in the region of fits rcross-b'a'r is resisted.vv

It will be noted thatfthe lug 'IIlonthecross-bari V*and the groove I4 inthe hub, extend in lperpen-i dicular planes. l .In order ,that assembly bey made betweenV links, the links are therefore vbrought into" however, of such relative Vdiameter that, .inA as,

sembly, one link may turn relatively tothe other, longitudinally of the chain, without causing a theuhubof onelink and the surface of the cross-VK bar lying thereinfyThisrloose engagement be- Y tweenlinks, v avoidingrubbing and permitting free circulation of` the pickling solution, thus avoids rap id destruction of the cross-arm'because 'of wear Vaccompanied by corrosion. In spitefof this loose engagement, 4no appreciable axial turning between links ispermitted-- Y This is not only becausejthe hub itself ris 4,of ,a length adequate to prevent. Substantial 1axial turning4 movement', but also because theengagement of lug IQ lin groove rapidly` to impair the desired axial positioning II, as a secondary function, further reduces such possibility. Y

Because of the structural features above considered, a chain comprising a plurality of identical links so formed runs upon a sprocket with 5 ysuiflcient smoothness for its intended purpose.

The connection between the links is such as to give throughout thehaingilexibility adequate to Y YWork' lies.r Also, as will readily be seen, each of thesingle-piece links of which the chain is com- "poseda'e massive in form, and a division line Ypermitting integration of the chain byV relativeY "engagementof ,the links is so positioned in assemblythat corrosion at the junction line does not tend rapidly todestroy the connection between links, nor does corrosion at that point tend betvveenlinks. y l f It will .be noted that thei anges 'I 'projected from the: llinkihub 'are relativelyiextended Vin.:`

the regioniof'the hub, and that their 4ct'rntour lines Vconverge, to Ymerge into the. side arms 8` of the link. This Vstructureproduces inassembly workreceivingY pockets between the anges 'I of adjacent links. YThese pockets tendito"prevent'slid-1 y ing movement `of the stockron the chain, as the' loop form of thel chain'is changed, and onthe contrary increase' the :effectiveness of .the chain'BO Y in turning and tumbling 'the' stock as the loop form of the lchain is recurrently changed; I

, Becausevof theY massive structure of. theoneV piecek chain links, and their relativelint'erlocking in assembly, the chain is of'great strength. may, therefore, advantageously.k be'used for gen# eral purposes as a heavy duty sprocket-chain."`V InY such.` uses, other than the Vu'ses herein particularized, the.'Y sprocket chainjobviously.maybe'madef of a metal, such as iron or steel, which is not acid-resistant.r x Y. -V

i Other qualitieswhich, coupled Vwiththc'ise imV mediately above noted, render my 'chain of great utility as a general purpose, heavy duty chain arej the. smooth running qualitiesof thev chain, and the factthatthe hub and cross-baron? eachof. the vchain linksareA so positioned between the side arms as .toy give the chain :a fixed pitch diameter: in both directions throughoutlthe v chain.. Be-'s cause;of this latter quality, the chain. may be red versed Ain .its `mounted position, without impai'ring the voperationof the chain, as the Ychain becomes worn in usei vThis `reversibilitjgx. as, made: "a propertyv of aY sprocket chain formedof,one-piece,`V interlocked links, is of importance in supplement-` 55 ing the strength and durability'.attendantfuponA these'otherlfeaturesfofY the chain.a f I Various modications in the form of the links 'and in their relative arrangement, falling within the ambit of the .appendant claims; may be madel 60 Without departing from the spirit of my invention. :-V a' I claim as myinventionz' i 1. A Asprocket chainv comprisinga 'pluralityrof identical one-piece links', each of whichr said links 65 Y" comprises side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, across-bar adapted to lieV Within'thehub f of .an adjacent link,said cross-bar being inter- Y rupted vpart-way of its lengthto provide for open-` ingof the cross-bar to Y'span and as reclosed to b e 70` forced into the hubof an adjacent link, protuberances on the cross-bar togboth sides of the interruption therein, the linkhub having an interior accessible channel adapted ,to ,receive the cross;

bar ,preiuberanes o f .an adjacent link thereby 75 in assembly to resist reopening of the adjacent Y link cross-bar.

2. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of identical one-piece links, each of which said links comprises -side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, and a cross-bar adapted to lie within the hub of an adjacent link, said cross-bar being interrupted partway of its length to provide for opening of the cross-bar to span and as reclosed to be forced into the hub of an adjacent link, the said hub and the said cross-bar having thereon means effective between adjacent links arranged to provide an interlocking engagement arranged in assembly to prevent reopening of a hub-inserted cross-bar.

3. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of identical one-piece links, each of which said links comprises side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, and a cross-bar adapted to lie within the hub of an adjacent link, said cross-bar being interrupted partway of its length to provide for opening of the cross-bar to span and as reclosed to be forced into the hub of an adjacent link, the hub bore and the cross-bar being of such relative cross-sectional area as to give therebetween a loose engagement providing in assembly free turning movement between links longitudinally ofthe chain without complete surface contact between the interior hub surface of one link and the cross-bar surface of an adjacent link and the hub being of a length adequate to prevent substantial relative axial turning of the links.

'4. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of identical one-piece links, each of which said links comprises side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, a cross-bar adapted to`lie within the hub of an adjacent link said cross-bar being interrupted partway of its length to provide for opening of the cross-bar to span and as reclosed to be forced into the hub of an adjacent link, the said hub and the said cross-bar having thereon means effective between adjacent links arranged to provide an interlocking engagement arranged in assembly to prevent reopening of a hub-inserted cross-bar, and extended fianges on the hub of each link merging into restricted regions of the side arms, the flanges of adjacent links in assembly providing work-receiving pockets therebetween.

5. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of identical one-piece links, each of which said links comprises side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, a cross-bar adapted to lie within the hub of an adjacent link, said cross-bar being interrupted partway of its length to provide for opening of the cross-bar to span and as reclosed to be forced into the hub of an adjacent link, the said hub and the said cross-bar having thereon means effective between adjacent links arranged to provide an interlocking engagement arranged in assembly to prevent reopening of a hub-inserted cross-bar, and the hub bore and the cross-bar being of such relative cross-sectional area as to give therebetween a loose engagement providing in assembly free turning movement between links longitudinally of the chain without complete surface contact between the hub surface of one link and the cross-bar surface of an adjacent link.

6. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of identical one-piece links, each of which links comprises side arms, a hub lying between the side arms, and a cross-bar adapted to lie within the hub of an adjacent link, said cross-bar being interrupted partway of its length to span and as reclosed to be forced into the hub of an adjacent link, the said hub and the said cross-bar having thereon means effective between adjacent links to provide an interlocking engagement arranged in assembly to prevent reopening of a hub-inserted cross-bar, and the said hub and cross-bar of each link being so mounted between the side arms of the link that in the chain assembly there is a fixed pitch diameter in both directions of the chain.

JOHN L. GERBER. 

